Drying apparatus for plates of metal and other material



Oct. 20, 1931. 1,828,516

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL I C. WAGNER ET AL al F led Sept. 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 20, 1931. c. WAGNER ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL OriginalFiled Sept. 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORS (x/a ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Shet 3 C. WAGNER ET AL wmn Original Filed Sept.

DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Oct. 20, 1931.

Oct. 20,1931.

C. WAGNER ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Original Filed Sept.

14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 V. vwe

Oct. 20, 1931. c. WAGNER ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Original Fil e d Sept. 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 20, 1931. c WAGNER ET AL DRYING APPARATUS FOR PLATES OF METAL AND OTHER MATERIAL Original Filed Sept. 14, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY Patented 03a. 2a,.13i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cnmns waemm, or eamwoonnm) aueus'r HOMEL, or mass: CITY," m mnsny, assrcnons 'rocnanans waem mno. mama? comm, me. a

coaromrron or m Yonx name APPARATUS For. Pr-Arne or METAL AND mm nm'rnnmr.

ori ami application and September i4, 1925, Berial No. 58,120. Divided and this application and August 1,-1929. Serialli'o. 882,681.

This invention relates to improvements in dryingv apparatus for plates of metal and other material.

Thisapplication is a division of an application filed by ap licants September 14, 1925,-

andbearing the erial-No. 56,120. One of the objects of our invention is to provide an efficient transfer mechanism for wetplates which are elevated in horizontal 10 position with awet face uppermost so as to enable the same to be shifted to descend also in horizontal position with the same face uppermost, whereby drying of the u' permost face. may be accomplis ed during t e eleva- Wtionand descent of the lates without a danger of running of t e coating material in one direction, and'to utilize inth transfer of such plates a novel means which will enable shifting b engagement with the bottom so surface thereo Another object of our invention comprises the use in the handling of plates and the like of a roller having peripheral attracting means-arranged to move or shift a plate upon rotation of the roller.

Still another object'of our invention is the use of electro-magn'etic rollers for shifting the .wet plates laterally from ascending to descending carriers.

sen another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically sutlopping the- 0 mg movemachine in the event of the. ment of a plate and we preferably provide electro-magnetic means for accomplishing a this result. p With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement, of partsv so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the'funtions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in"

which:-

Fig. '1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying. our invention showing the outer casing in section; f Fig. 2 is a sectiolr on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, sq looking in thejdirectionof the arrow;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is a sectionon the line-4.4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow and illustrating our preferred form of retaining and shifting device;

Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, Y

' showing the supporting bracket for the initial shifting and retaining devices;

I Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of'Fig. 1, illustrating the feeding and delivery devices Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 2, illustrating our improved electro-magnetic plate-shifting rollers; A

Fig. 8 is an enlarged'section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showin the top of the dryin .carrier and the shi ted ing device 'moun thereat; a

. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, illustrating a connection between the electric source of supply and the magnetic rollers;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10 1 0 of Fig. 1, showing in section the operating dog andthe magnetic means for throwing it out "of mesh to stop theoperation of the platecarrier; j

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electric devices and connections for operating the magnetic rollers and for automatically stoppin the operation of the carrier in the,

event 0 displacement of a plate; and 1 Fig. 12 is a view, partly in section, on the line 1212 of Fig. 6 and partly diagrammatic of the lower drive chains and sprockets.

fer-ring now to these drawings, our invention is shown 'as applied to a plate-drying ap'paratuswhich is the subject-matter of our pending application, Serial No. 56,120

filedon the 14th day of September, 1325, of which this application is a division. The

elements of this'plate-drying apparatus are as follows: 7

Ooaweyor mechanism A pair of endless conveyor chains C, C are mounted to extend vertically, the members of a pair being arranged in horizontallyaced relationship to each other. Eaclrof pair of chains C, C are continuous and are mounted at their lower ends on sprockets S, S on a centrally-located shaft 1 supported, as shown,

in a pair of spaced oppositely-arranged the continuous chains G, C are mounted and guided, said chains thus having arcuate portions at their upper and lower ends and rectilinear vertically-disposed ascending and descending stretches which preferably incline or taper from the lower mounting toward the upper mounting to compensate for any sagging in the lifting or carrying of their loads as hereinafter specified.

As illustrated, the lower end of the chains are mounted upon the sprockets S, S" which are fast upon the centrally-located shaft;1 journalled in bearings 1 integrally cast 1n the frame. The opposite ends of the chains are mounted and guided to pass over the grooved support or track T, T formed in castings 2, 2 adjustably supported on the upper ends of the angle-bars B, B. As illustrated, thecastings 2, 2 are mounted in openings in plates 3, 3 fastened to the upper ends of the angle-bars B, B, the said castings 2, 2 being clamped to the plates 3, 3" by the use of outer plates or castings 4, 4 by clamping-bolts 5.

As illustrated, the chains C, C comprise a series of linksce connecting pivot pins 0 on which are mounted spools or rollers c and on their vertical ascending and descending stretches the rollers e are guided within tracks formed by fastening a track-strip B to each of the angle-bars B, B and applying at the outer side thereof a U-shaped bar 6 having a track portion, spaced from the trackstrip B to form a groove and contacting with the rollers at the side opposite to said strip.

Each link of the chain has an outward-extension-comprising a brackebplate'on a pair of which bracket plates a channel bar- 7 is supported to extend transversely between the pair of chains C, C.

The plate holders J .a plurality of sections 8 spaced from each other to provide plate-handling channels 8".

In the embodiment shown, each plate'holder comprises 'four sections 8 each formed of single wire bent between its-ends to form a plate supporting part and passing at their inner attaching ends through both flanges of the channel bar. The inner ends have heads 8 riveted at one side of the inner flange and have a bend 8 at the opposite side of-the other flange so asto be firmly supported by chains and that plates to be dried may be supported in horizontal position upon such ascending and descending stretches, thus avoiding any running of the coating material during such vertical movement. Both the ascending and descending stretches are, v as aforesaid, preferably guided in a slightly inclined or conical patlf so as to compensate for any normal sagging of the plate holders.

The driving mechanism These chains C, C are preferably driven with an intermittent motion for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly specified. As illustrated,'a ratchet wheel 9 is fast upon the shaft 1 and is intermittently moved by a dog or pawl 10 having its free end engaging the teeth of the said ratchet wheel 9 and being, as illustrated, pivoted at 11 at the outer end of an arm 12 pivotally mounted upon the said shaft 1. The said pivoted arm 12 is engaged at its outer end by a pivoted link 13 which.is in turn pivoted to an operating rod 14 connected to a cam strap 15 operatively mountedupon a'grooved cam disc 16 upon a power shaft 17 driven from any suitable source of power not shown and mounted in bearings 18, 18 on the frame F. It will be apparent that upon rotation of the power shaft 17 and cam disc-16 the connecting rod will be moved intermittently which in turn will rock the pawl or dog about the shaft 1 and'cause the shaft 1 to be rotated by an intermittent movement, each tooth in the ratchet corresponding to a step in such intermittent movement. It is desirable to prevent any excessive or slipping movement of the said shaftl, and for this purpose, we

" mount, in cooperation with the pawl, a braking device comprising a disc ,or wheel 19 fixed on the same shaft 1 which is braked by a braking shoe 20 having a lined braking surface engaging the same and operated into braking relationship simultaneously with the completion of each ste in the intermittent movement by means 0 an arm 21 adjustably fastened upon a bifurcated arm 22 engaging the shaft 17 and carrying on a stub shaft'23 a roller 24 engaging a cam wheel 25 fixed on the power shaft 17. The cams 16 and 25 are arranged. to time the braking action of the shoe so/as tostop any excessive or slipping movement of the ratchet wheel and shaft.

7 he feeding mechanism The movement pf the chains andsectional plate-carriers about an arcuate guide such as ill nsaeue thespr'ockets S, S' at the lower ends, causes the opening-up or spacing of the plate-can riers 8 andwe provide just below the beginning of the ascending stretch of the chaln, a feeding mechanism. p

This feeding mechanism may be driven from any suitable source of power and, as illustrated, comprises a seriesof three bracket arms 30 each mounted at one end adjacent 10 to the outer end of the plate-carriers and having its free end extending or projecting inwardly into the .spaces or channels 8 between the sectional plate carriers 8, thus p'er,-.

r mitting a plate P to be moved thereon into the path of the plate-carriers and into the normal elevating positio n of such plates on the carriers, thus to avoid any shifting ofthe plates after engagement thereof b the said sectional plate-carriers 8. v

It will be seen that'theprojection of these feeding arms into the channels-between the section of ,the'plate-carriers, ineifect, produce a interlacing relationship therebe tween;'that the arms lie in 'pl'anes parallel with the plate-carrier sections and extend 'into juxtaposition with each other. As il lustrated, the plates are fed on to the carriers.

by supporting the same .upona series ofvbelts 31 mounted on suitable pulleys (not shown) '80 at one end, at the opposite end upon pulleys 32 fixed on a'shaft 33 journalled in bearing brackets 34 on the side of a frame'and when the plate is carried forwardly, the UIIdGI SIJP- face thereof is engagedby belts 35 supported 36' at one end upon pulleys 36 also fixed upon theshaft 33 and supported at'their opposite ends uponpulleys 30 mountedon stub shafts 30* at free ends of the bell-crank arms 30 which are rigidly 'supportedfupon' rods .37

' and 38 so as to hold the outer pulley-supporting free end (if the arm. firmly in position within the spaces or channels plate-carrier sections. '1 a From the above, it will be between said obvious that a 4,5 plate-fed to the outer belts will be carried into the path of the plate-carriers just before the closing up forl the. ascending stretch .theredf'; that the. plate will thus 'he sup ported in substantially horizontal position- 50' so' that wet paint or a'coating of any kind may be dried without any marring'thereo'f by engagement ofthe'plate-carriers with the upper wet face thereof and without any running? of the paint orother material.

The transfer Q In accordance with Ourpresent, invention, we provide means not only to carry the plates in horizontad position on the ascend-.

ing stretch; but 'alsbto carry su'c hplates on the downward" or descending stretch of this chain with the same surface of the plate uppermost as it is apparent that if a plate; were allowed to turn oi, swing around with the chain and plate-carriers,'they would-first be turned edgewisehnd then turned over. To avoid thisv and to continue the drying-on the downward-stretch, we provide at the upper end of the conveyor mechanism a novel T form of transfer mechanism embodying mag- 70 V netic rollers for shifting the plate from the upper end of the-ascending stretch to the beginning of the descending stretch and this shifting is accomplished betweenthe end I and beginning respectively of these stretches 'fi and the turning portion of the chains..

" In order to provide space forthe operation of the shifting mechanism, we preferably cause the chains at the upper end tq be fir'st guided in asharp curvebetween the ver- 80 Y tically-di'sposed ascending portion and the beginning of the arcuate portion and'wealso provide a similar sharp guiding curve between said arcuate portion and the beginning of the descending stretch, thus causing an enlargementofi the normal spacing or separation between the plate-carriers tofag cilitate the shifting of a plate',edgewise or horizontally from the end of the ascending stretcg to the beginning-of the descending. stretc a a The magnetic-rollers In the preferred embodiment shown, this shifting is accomplished by mounting at the upper end of the conveyor between the ascending and descending stretches of chain and carriers ofself-attachingor self-attractin}: means, preferably comprising magnetic rollers R for engaging the lower surfaces T06 of the plates P and shifting the sameedge- Wise laterally preferably in combi-nation "with means for initiall shifting the plates into contact with said magnetic shifting rollers, As illustrated, these shifting devices comprise a pair of magnetic rollers'R each mounted on a shaft 40 in bearing blocks 41, 41* on theitrack castings T, T just bel w'the'said guiding tracks and, as illus- V trated, these magnetic rollers see Figs; 3 and 7 are actuated to rotate in the same direction by providing on eachof the shafts, sprockets 42which are commonly or "mutualjly engaged by a sprocket chain 43 which is driven fromga shaft 44 having a sprocket 45 fixed thereon, over. which .the opposite nd the chain 43 passes. This shaft 44 has a sprocket 46 fast thereon and is menu, driven through the chain 47 and sprocket 48 on asha'ft 49rwhichis geared; or connected -by a' series of sprocket-s and, chains with a- Idrive-shaft 50 at 'the delivery end of the machine.

Insaidpreferred form] illustrated, a non: magnetic idler roller r is preferably mounted between the magnetic-rollers on a shaft, 51 Supportedin a bearing bracket '52, 52 and is rotated by engagement ofa sprocket 53 with the actuating chain for the magnetic roller. 1 Each roller is provided with annular collars. 54 having peripheral surfaces 55 which are 'r magnetized by windings or coils 56. Electric energy is supplied to said rollers R,by providing at one end thereof an insulated circular track 57 with which a contact brush 58 is supported in a holder 59 connected to the track casting T. The brushes 58 are connected by wires 60 to one pole of the generator, and the magnetie'windings or coils 56 of the rollers are suitably grounded on the shaft which is, connected, as represented in the diagrammatic view in Fig. '11 by the and hold the under or lower surface of a metal plate and that when the roller is, during such magnetic attraction, rotated, as

. aforesaid, it will cause the plate to be shifted edgewise laterally; that contact of the edge of the plate with one of the rollers will thus cause an edgewise shifting over that roller and into contact with the second roller which will continue to shift the same edgewise or laterally on to a plate-carrier on the descendin stretch of the conveyor chain. r

n a shifting device of this type, we find that the momentum of a plate during move.- ment over the rollers causes it to be shifted or slid beyond the surface of the last roller and on the plate-carriers on the descending stretch of the conveyor chains. 1

In the said preferred embodiment, we preferably provide a seriesv of buffer bars preferably com rising two spring buffer bars 61, 61' mounte upon the bracket bar 62 supported upon cross bars 63, 63 forming a portion of the upper end of the machine, and between these two bufi'er bars 61, 61 we preferably provide another flexible spring bufl'er bar 64 connected at opposite ends in an inclined position on a similar bracket bar 64 also supported upon said cross bar.

Our preferred means for initially shifting the plate into engagement with the magnetic rollers comprises a series of bracket arms 70 (see Fig. 3) extending \vithin the spaces 8 between the sectional plate-carriers 8 which arms are securely fastened at the outer ends at two points on the bars 71 and 72 mounted adjacent to the outer ends of the plate-carriers in brackets 73 and 74 fastened to the cross bar 63 and have sprockets on stub shafts 7 0 at the free ends which extend to a point adjacent to the rollers R. The brackets have 'jour'nalle'd at opposite ends thereof two shafts 75 and 76. On theshaft 7 5 are journalled sprockets 7,7 each having mounted thereon one end of a chain 78, the opposite end of which passes over a sprocket 7 0. Each chain It will be obvi-' .with a 4 preferabl is provided .with a tooth or projection 79 a a'pted in each revolution to engage the side edge of the plate and to move or slide it edgewise into contact with the magnetic rollers. The said shaft 75 is driven continuously and timed b a connection to the shaft 80. As shown, t e shaft 75 is provided with a sprocket 75 meshing with a chain 7 5 which engages a sprocket 80} on the shaft 80 which is geared by gears 80", 80 to the shaft 44 from which the magnetic gears are rotated and which in turn is connected to the power shaft at the delivery'side of the 7 machine.

, The plates P after being shifted to the descending stretch or flight of plate-carriers, are carried downwardly until they engage and are supp'orted'upon delivery belts similarly exten in within the channels or-spaces 8 between t e sectional plate holders 8. These delivery belts are supported upon bellcrank bracket arms 91 mounted at the outer edge of the machine on rods 92 and 93. The inner ends of the delivery belts 90 are each mounted upon a pulley 94 journalled-upon a stub shaft 95 supported on-the bracket ,arm 91 while the opposite outer end is mounted on pulleys 96 on a drive shaft 50 mounted in earings 98 at opposite side edges of the frame casting F of the machine, On this shaft 50 is also supported transfer pulleys 98 having chains 99 for movement of the plates outside of the machine, which chain 1s preferably provided with projections for engaging the edges of the plate and in the preferred em .bodiment of the machine shown, said chain is connected with any suitable source of power not shown to supply power for driving the shaft 50. On the shaft 50 is provided a large gear 100 which meshes with a pinion 101 to rotate the shaft of a generator 102 which furnishes energy to the magnetic rollers R and to the magnet for the stop mechanism hereinafter specified. Said shaft 50 is also provided sprocket 103 which through the chain 104 and sprocket 105 transmits power to the shaft 33 at the feeding side of the machine for the purpose of rotating the feed belts 31 which have heretofore been described.

Said shaft 50 also has mounted thereon a s rocket 106 which through the chain 107 rives a sprocket108 on a stub shaft 109 on which shaft is mounted sprocket 110 driving through a chain 111 passing over a sprocket 112 on the stub shaft 49 on which stub shaft We preferably provide means for automatically stopping the machine in the Went mount over the magnetic rollers'R a movable bar 131 having a spriiig 132 abu 3 a base 133 onth'e armature and a pin 134 orpin 137 on said extension 135.

guard plate 120 1 preferably pivoted at one end by pivot 121 in bearings 122 suitably sup ported on the bearing bracket'for the magnetic rdller and being free at its opposite ends .1 120 so as to be engaged and moved in the.

' event of the faildre of the transfer or shifting mechanism to operate'and thus to cause the plate-carriers to move a plate into engagement therewith or in case anypther. part of the mechanism fails to properly move a plate in proper position. When the end 120 of the guard plate is so engaged by one of the plates P to bedried, it will be lifted and will engage a spring-pressed roller1123 which is mountedupon a-pin 124 movablevertically -in a bracket 125 and the end of this pin 124" upon movement thereof will compress Y the spring 126 and will-engage one ofthe contacts of a switch 127 which will close the cir-) cuit and energize a magnet 128 (see Figs. 10 and 11) tlie armature 1290f which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 130 and has at its end ,a' cushioning device comprising a plunger ting between through theshank thereof. When sooner-- .giz'ed, the pivoted armature will-be rocked about its pivot and an extension 135 thereof at the opposite side of the pivot will be caused :toiengage the dog or pawl 10 to lift the same out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 9 so as to prevent further intermittent rotation. The extension 135 will be held in .elevated position with the dog 10 out of engagement by means of a spring-pressed arm 136 pivoted at 136 on the magnet 128 and having a notch 136 adapted to engage aprojection' flghe armature 129 is normally held inele vated position by, means of a spring 138 stretched between said extension 135 and a projection 139 on the core of the magnet.

The cushioningplunger131 o the armature provides. a flexible means f0 disengaging the dog so that the operationof the stopping magnet which is likelyto happen at any time will, in the event of being unable to release the dog because of its engaging position, tension the spring 132 which will thu's release the said dog so soon as it reaches a position when it can be released. It will be'understood that the dog when in engagement with, the ratchet and in its operating movement, cannot be lifted, and in order to free the ratchet from the pawl it is necessary to wait until the pawl starts on its return movement. If, therefore, a plateis being fouled while the pawl is so engaged, the magnet will be energized and the armature will be operated to store the power'in the spring 132 which will thereafter ascending flight of the carriers for; the purpose of maintaining the same in. sidewise alignment. As illustrated, -we also provide two pairs of vertical guide bars 142 for the inner edges of the plate in'case of displacemeht toward the conveyorchain and magnetic rollers, one pair beinga'rranged to guide" plates'on the ascending stretch and the other pair to ghide on the, descending stretch: These bars142, as illustrated, are mounted at their lower ends on projecting lugs 142 fastened to cross. bars 143 which are connecte'dat their opposite ends to angle frame bars. The upper ends of the pairs of guide bars 142 preferably rest upon or are arranged closely adjacent to the peripheries of the magnetic rollers so as toact as *gu'ards against contact of the edges of the plate therewith before reaching the upper end of the flight.

Having described our invention," we claim g 1. Apparatus for handling wet plates, embodying, in combination, plate-carrying mechanism having members mounted to move .in, spaced paths, a roller having on its periphery means for attracting a plate upon contact therewith, and means for rotating said roller to cause the plate to be shifted overthe roller upon such rotation from a member moging' inone of said paths to a member. movin in the other of said paths;

2. Apparatu for handling wet plates, embodying, in combination, plate-carrying mechanism having members mounted to move in spaced paths, a roller having a peripheral surface carrying a magnetic charge, and means for rotatingsaid roller whereby the bottom surface of a, metal plate contacting with said roller will be attracted upon con'- tact with the roller and will be shifted over said roller upon rotation thereof from a member moving in one of said paths to a member moving in the other of said paths.

3. Apparatus for handling wet plates, embodying, in cbmbination, plate-carrying mechanism having members mounted to move insp'aced paths, a rollerhaving a peripheral- 4. Apparatus for handling wet plates, embod 'ng, in combination, plate-carrying mec anism having members mounted to move in spaced paths, a plurality of electro-mag- 5 netic rollers having charged peri heral surfaces, and means for rotating said. charged rollers to cause a plate moved into contact with one roller to be moved thereb into contact with "the other roller and t en to be continuously shifted over said second magnetic-roller by the rotation thereof from a member moving in one of said paths to a member moving in the other of said paths. 5. Apparatus for handling wet plates, em-

.15 bodying, in combination, plate-ca 'ng mechanism having members mounte to move in spaced paths, a pluralit of electromagnetic rollers having charge peripheral surfaces and an idler roller arranged between such rollers, and means for rotating said charged rollers to cause a plate to be moved by one roller, then over said idler and into contact with the other, and then to be continuously shifted over-said second magneticroller from a member moving in one of said paths to a member moving in the other of said paths.

6. Apparatus for handling wet'plates, embodying, in combination, plate-ca ing mechanism having members mounte to move in spaced paths, a pluralit of electromagnetic rollers havin charge peripheral surfaces and an idler r0 ler arranged between such rollers, and means for rotating said '35 charged rollers to cause a plate to be moved by one roller, then over said idler and into contact with the other, and then to be continuously shifted over said second magneticroller from a member moving in one of said paths to a member moving 1n the other of said paths, and means for initially moving a plate into contact with said electro-magnetic rollers.

, In witness whereof, we have signed our names to the foregoing specification. V

\W CHARLES WAGNER.

- AUGUST HORMEL. 

